''Nobody Runs Forever'', also called ''The High Commissioner'', is a 1968 British

political Politics () is the set of activities that are associated with decision-making, making decisions in social group, groups, or other forms of power (social and political), power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of Social sta ...

neo noir Neo-noir is a film genre that adapts the visual style and themes of 1940s and 1950s American film noir for contemporary audiences, often with more graphic depictions of violence and sexuality. During the late 1970s and the early 1980s, the term ...

spy thriller Spy fiction is a genre of literature involving espionage as an important context or plot device. It emerged in the early twentieth century, inspired by rivalries and intrigues between the major powers, and the establishment of modern intelli ...

action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...

film directed by

Ralph Thomas Ralph Philip Thomas (10 August 1915 – 17 March 2001) was an English film director who directed the Doctor (film series), ''Doctor'' film series. Thomas cast the actor James Robertson Justice in many of his films. He often worked with the pr ...

and based on Jon Cleary's 1966 novel '' The High Commissioner''. It stars Rod Taylor as Australian policeman Scobie Malone and

Christopher Plummer Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer (December 13, 1929 – February 5, 2021) was a Canadian actor. His career spanned seven decades, gaining him recognition for his performances in film, stage and television. His accolades included an Academy Aw ...

as the Australian High Commissioner in Britain caught up in corrupt dealings, during delicate negotiations. Taylor's production company was involved in making the film, as was the American company Selmur Productions.

Plot

Sergeant Scobie Malone of the

New South Wales Police The New South Wales Police Force is a law enforcement agency of the state of New South Wales, Australia, established in 1862. With more than 17,000 police officers, it is the largest police organisation in Australia, policing an area of 801,60 ...

(NSW Police) is summoned to

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

by the gruff

Premier of New South Wales The premier of New South Wales is the head of government in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Government of New South Wales follows the Westminster system, Westminster Parliamentary System, with a Parliament of New South Wales actin ...

, Mr Flannery, who asks Malone to travel to

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

and arrest the senior Australian diplomat in Britain, Sir James Quentin, High Commissioner to the UK. Sir James, a political rival of the Premier, has become the only suspect in a 17-year-old murder case. Upon his arrival at the Australian High Commission in London, Malone meets Lady Quentin and her husband, as well as Sir James's secretary. Sir James does not object to being arrested, but he asks for a few days to conclude delicate peace negotiations. As Malone waits as a guest of the High Commission, he uncovers a plot to assassinate Sir James, masterminded by the head of a dangerous spy ring, Maria Cholon.

Cast

* Rod Taylor as 'Scobie' Malone *

as Sir James Quentin * Lilli Palmer as Lady Sheila Quentin * Camilla Sparv as Lisa Pretorius * Daliah Lavi as Maria Cholon * Clive Revill as Joseph *

Lee Montague Leonard Goldberg (16 October 1927 – 30 March 2025), known professionally as Lee Montague, was an English actor noted for his roles in film and television, usually playing tough guys. Early life Montague was born in Bow, London. His family wa ...

as Denzil * Calvin Lockhart as 'Jamaica' *

Derren Nesbitt Derren Nesbitt (born Derren Michael Horwitz; 19 June 1935) is a British actor. Nesbitt's film career began in the late 1950s, and he appeared in many British television series throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He is perhaps best known for his ro ...

as Pallain * Edric Connor as Julius * Paul Grist as Coburn * Burt Kwouk as Pham Chinh * Russell Napier as Leeds * Ken Wayne as Ferguson * Charles "Bud" Tingwell as Jacko (as Charles Tingwell) *

Franchot Tone Stanislaus Pascal Franchot Tone (February 27, 1905 – September 18, 1968) was an American actor, producer, and director of stage, film and television. He was a leading man in the 1930s and early 1940s, and at the height of his career was known ...

as Ambassador Townsend *

Leo McKern Reginald "Leo" McKern (16 March 1920 – 23 July 2002) was an Australian actor who appeared in numerous British, Australian and American television programmes and films, and in more than 200 stage roles. His notable roles include Clang in ...

as Flannery (uncredited) * Peter Reynolds as Casino Manager (uncredited) *

Tony Selby Anthony Samuel Selby (26 February 1938 – 5 September 2021) was an English actor. With a career that spanned 71 years, he was known for his roles as Corporal Percy Marsh in the ITV (TV network), ITV British sitcom, sitcom ''Get Some In!'' (1975� ...

as cameraman (uncredited) *

Nick Tate Nicholas John Tate (born 18 June 1942) is an Australian actor. He is known for his extensive film work as well as roles as pilot Alan Carter (Space: 1999), Alan Carter in the 1970s science fiction series ''Space: 1999'' and James Hamilton in t ...

as Sir James' Assistant (uncredited)

Production

In August 1966 Cleary said

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

was interested in buying the film rights. Film rights were sold in December 1966. Filmed in Australia and London, this was the last big-screen appearance of

, who plays the American ambassador. Rod Taylor has a rare opportunity to play an Australian, even though it was his native land. Taylor's unsophisticated integrity is contrasted with the London diplomatic scene throughout the film. Taylor accepted the role on the proviso he could rewrite some of the script. In particular, the opening scene where Scobie Malone arrests Jacko ( Charles Tingwell) is Rod's work.Stephen Vagg, ''Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood'', Bear Manor Media, 2010 p 139 Ralph Thomas later said "I was a hired hand" on the film; "It was ok".

Differences from novel

There were several key changes from the novel, including: introducing Scobie Malone as an outback policeman, reducing the emphasis on the peace conference being for the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

and making it something more vague, Scobie having sex with Maria Cholon.

Reception

Critical

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "Despite a basically promising situation, a distinguished cast and plenty of gloss, this thriller is a catastrophic failure on any level. The actors are scarcely able to conceal their embarrassment with the impossible dialogue they are given, Daliah Lavi and Camilla Sparv are wasted, and even Clive Revill is hard put to raise a couple of laughs from his snobbish reactions to an Australian from the outback. The script rambles along without rhyme or reason, and the most obvious opportunities for suspense (like the attempted assassination on the Centre Court at Wimbledon) are badly mishandled. The film has something of the flavour of a middle-period '' Hitchcock'', but not a trace of the Master's talent."

Box office

The film earned rentals of $455,000 in North America and $150,000 elsewhere. It recorded a loss of $1,185,000. It recorded admissions in France of 44,083.French box office for 1969
at Box Office Story

References

External links

* * {{Jon Cleary 1968 films 1960s action thriller films 1960s spy thriller films British spy thriller films British action thriller films British detective films 1960s English-language films Films scored by Georges Delerue Films based on works by Jon Cleary Films directed by Ralph Thomas Films set in London Films set in Sydney Films shot in Australia Films shot in London Films shot at Pinewood Studios British political thriller films 1960s British films English-language action thriller films English-language spy thriller films